The Recording Academy's Global Vision: Music, Membership and Local Impact presented by Recording Academy

Speakers

• Shain Shapiro, Founder,  Sound Diplomacy

• Ruby Marchand, Chief Awards & Global Industry Officer, Recording Academy

• Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, Recording Academy

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How can global music institutions strengthen local music ecosystems? Join Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, and Ruby Marchand, Vice President of Awards & Industry Engagement at the Recording Academy, for a conversation on the Academy's global strategy, exploring the intersection of advocacy, music cities, local music economies and international membership growth, and why a diverse, engaged membership is central to celebrating musical excellence and supporting a thriving global music community.

 Music Offices Focus presented by the Association of Music Offices
Presentation on 10 Years of Music Export Memphis

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A double program, consisting of three case studies followed by a panel:

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Music Export Memphis: A Decade of Building Sustainable Careers

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Speakers: 

• Elizabeth Cawein, Founder & Executive Director, Music Export Memphis

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Music Export Memphis is a first-of-its-kind city-based nonprofit "export office" for music, building sustainable careers for working commercial musicians in Memphis, Tenn., by subsidizing touring and mobilizing them as paid Ambassadors for the city.

In 2026, MEM celebrates 10 years. In this session, the organization's founder and executive director, Elizabeth Cawein, will take you back to the beginning to share insights from the ground up. Digging deep into MEM's theory of change, Elizabeth will walk you through how she built it (key partners, strategies and more), how it's grown and evolved, and the ethos and philosophy behind place-based music programs, direct musician subsidy, and cultural export for local impact.

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StageCare: A Model for Supporting Creative Communities

Speakers: 

• Byron Sanders, Stagecare

• Kristina Kirkenaer–Hart (Dallas Music Office / AMO co-founder)

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StageCare was built and launched around a simple question: If we don't care for our creatives, why would they stay in our city? Recognizing that affordable healthcare was one of the greatest challenges facing working artists, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart and Byron Sanders found one another at the right moment, bringing together the Dallas Music Office's deep relationships with the creative community and Arete Health's expertise in healthcare. Together, they launched the StageCare model through its first pilot, Creatives Care Dallas. In this session, they will share how the partnership came together, the role community leaders played in shaping the program, and why caring for creatives is essential to attracting, retaining, and supporting creative talent. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for building partnerships that help artists thrive and create stronger creative communities.

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Panel discussion & Q&A

• Moderator: Reid Wick, Director, Regional Advocacy & Member Engagement, Recording Academy / GRAMMYs

Panelists:

• Elizabeth Cawein (Memphis)

• Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart (Dallas)

• Chip Adams (Texas)

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Cities, counties, and states across the country are harnessing the power of music in their communities in innovative and impactful ways.  This panel brings together leading voices from varied music offices across the country to learn more about successful programs, policies and practices implemented in communities across the country.  The newly formed AMO (Association of Music Offices) connects music offices nationwide by supporting music communities through industry collaboration and shared best practices.  

Creative Placemaking: Weaving Music into the Urban Fabric​​

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Speakers

• Juanita Hardy, Managing Principal, Tiger Management Consulting Group

• Cory Crossman, Director, London Music Office & Focal Point, UNESCO City of Music, Tourism London / London Music Office

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Creative placemaking is about more than just physical space; it’s about shaping the social and economic fabric of our communities. Join Juanita Hardy, Senior Visiting Fellow for Creative Placemaking at the Urban Land Institute (ULI)—the world's largest network of real estate and land use experts—and Cory Crossman, Director, London Music Office & Focal Point, UNESCO City of Music, for a conversation on the intersection of urban design and music ecosystems. This session will dissect the strategies for integrating music into city planning, fostering cultural vibrancy, and building sustainable spaces where creativity and commerce thrive together.

Lunch
 

A longer break to refuel, connect and continue conversations with delegates and speakers.

Music Tourism Focus Presentations

Building Destination Value Through Music presented by Hidden Gems of Music Tourism

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• Jaye O’Donnell, Economic Development Director, City of Mesa

• Andrea Dempster-Chung, Co-founder & Managing Director, Kingston Creative

• Daryl Raven, CEO, Queensland Music Trails

• Lynreshay Johnson, The Bahamas Cultural Attaché 

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Explore how destinations are leveraging music as a core tourism asset. This session examines the strategic integration of music into tourism marketing, major event planning, and local economic development, featuring insights from global experts on creating destination value that resonates with visitors and locals alike.

Music Policy in 2030: Sustainability

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Moderator

• Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director, SOCAN Foundation

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Speakers

• Sergio Emilio Parra, Research & Program Manager, Canadian Live Music Association

• Gorg Vella, Executive Partnerships, Advocacy, and Collaborations, Arts Council Malta​

• Kerry Clarke, Artistic and Marketing Director, Calgary Folk Fest

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What must we build today to ensure a thriving music ecosystem in 2030? This forward-looking panel explores the critical intersections of emerging technology and urban survival, examining how to ensure the future of music is climate-resilient and community-owned.

Music-Friendly Policies for a Sustainable Workforce presented by Canadian Economic Development

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Speakers

• Nathan Walker, Director of Development, Duck Club Entertainment / Music Idaho

• DeMarcus Akeem Suggs, Director, City of Memphis Office of Creative & Cultural Economy

• Andrea Khoo, Deputy Director, Performing Arts (Music), National Arts Council

• Lisa Hresko, Chief Operating Officer, A2IM (American Association of Independent Music)

Four distinct perspectives on the mechanisms that make music-friendly policies work. This rapid-fire session brings together expertise from Memphis to Singapore, bridging the gap between census data, creative sector investment, independent music advocacy, and crowdfunding to demonstrate how cities and associations can cultivate a sustainable and thriving music workforce.

Engineering a Music City – The Huntsville Blueprint

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Speakers
 

• Matt Mandrella, Music Officer, City of Huntsville, AL

• Azucena Micó, Chief Strategy Officer, Sound Diplomacy
   

Known worldwide as the 'Rocket City,' Huntsville, Alabama, is proving that the intersection of science and soul is the ultimate engine for growth. In this fireside chat, we dissect the journey behind Alabama’s most comprehensive music strategy—a roadmap that successfully bridged the gap between STEM-driven urban planning and creative cultural development. From clearing regulatory hurdles and sparking economic investment to building iconic infrastructure, Huntsville’s leadership shares the hard-won insights on transforming a local scene into a global benchmark. 

West Anthem Alberta Music Action Plan - Results-oriented presentation with the Alberta Music Commissioner

Jennifer Venance, Alberta Music Commissioner

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Following the launch of the West Anthem Alberta Music Action Plan, this session presents a clear-eyed look at the results and the roadmap ahead. We dive into the specific metrics, policy wins, and strategic pivots driving growth in Alberta’s music economy, offering a blueprint for how action-oriented planning can lead to tangible, scalable success.

Closing remarks & handover​

Networking coffee

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​A chance to recharge, reflect and continue conversations with speakers and delegates.​